Here you can browse the two specialisation courses and major thesis examples for Spatial Planning. The specialisation courses increase your knowledge of different planning theories and methodologies. You are stimulated to reflect on spatial planning practices, to participate in academic debate across disciplines and to improve your research skills. In the major thesis, you dive deep into a specific topic of your choice within this field.
Spatial Planning and Scarce Resources
Spatial resources are scarce. This scarcity is not only environmentally determined, but to a large extend a result of political processes. Spatial planning creates or alleviates scarcity of land by intervening in the allocation and distribution of land. The course Spatial Planning and Scarce Resources explores this topic and the role of spatial planning. Implementing spatial policy is at the very core of spatial planning as a discipline. For this implementation there are different instruments of land policy at the disposal of planners. Which instruments are appropriate, largely depends on the context in which they are used. In an increasingly dynamic society that is reinventing itself continuously, it is vital for planners to understand this complex context. The students of the Spatial Planning specialisation learn all about different land policy instruments to obtain planning objectives and to deal with properties rights that make spatial development often a very challenging process. During the course students are expected to give a presentation about one land policy instrument and to write an academic paper on a real-life scarcity issue and the possible impact of the implementation of different land policy instruments.
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Political Dilemmas of Spatial Planning
Spatial planning deals with the allocation and distribution of land and other spatial resources. Planners pursue this task by using governmental power, economic incentives, and communicative strategies. Thereby, public authority, trust and money are used. This activity raises many questions with respect to efficiency, effectiveness, justice, legitimacy, and many more. The first part of this course is a literature based structured reflection on different theoretical perspectives on planning and their contradictions. It entails dilemmas between and within concepts of effectiveness of planning, efficiency, democracy, legitimacy, balancing interests, responsibility. Different modes of spatial governance and different roles of planners are discussed connecting national and international discourses about spatial planning. The second part focuses on applying these planning theories to planning practice. The students practice this by applying abstract and competing concepts of justice to a specific spatial planning situation. How does a just city look like? Students learn to reflect academically on planning and develop their own theoretical planning approach. The final product that students are expected to deliver is a paper discussing different theoretical perspectives applied on a real-life situation and a group report and sketch of the Just City (see the pictures below).
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Thesis Spatial Planning
The major thesis is an individual research project on a topic within the field of Spatial Planning. You are supervised by one or more staff members, who guide you and give feedback, but you build and pursue the project independently. This includes developing a research plan, collecting and analysing data, formulating answers to your research questions, discussing the academic and societal relevance of your conclusions and reporting on the research both in writing and in oral presentation. Below are some examples of recent Spatial Planning theses. You can find the full theses by clicking on the library links.
Afrizal Maarif Imron - Green Kampung
Abstract: Nowadays, the conventional top-down planning approach has been replaced by more flexible system of communication where decision making and powers are transferred to community and private sectors. The new approach that enables the participation of various actors is widely known as “collaborative governance”. This research aims to understand the role of collaborative governance in the Surabaya Green and Clean (SGC) programme by unraveling the complexity of collaborative processes, actors involved and the actors’ role in the implementation of SGC programme. This study uses the concept of neighbourhood upgrading, collaborative governance and governance in green space development as starting point to answer the research objective. This research was performed using qualitative research approach. A total of 14 interviews was carried out in data collection, covering the stakeholder groups of government, private sector, academics, community organization and community. Atlas.ti was used to conduct qualitative data analyis. The results show that the collaborative governance deployed a significant role in achieving the positive outcomes of SGC programme. Various factors that support the positive outcomes of SGC are; the prior history of cooperation, facilitative leadership, active citizen participation, the involvement of media and the commitment to process. Meanwhile, the absence of leadership and the lack of follow-up assistane after SGC programme might impede the successful collaboration. This study contributes to the scientific knowledge concerning the utilization of collaborative approach in neighbourhood upgrading, particularly for the context of Indonesian kampung.
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Eva Duivenvoorden - Tackling urban transition in public space
Abstract: Public space is of great importance to the functioning of urban areas, which serve as a place for meeting, interaction, and social cohesion, thereby making various functions accessible (Van Melik, 2008). In addition, the functionality and design of public space ensure that people identify with the city (Jacobs, 1961). The public space thereby determines the quality of life and attractiveness of a city (City of Apeldoorn, 2020), municipalities therefore, refer to public space as the “living room” or “showcase” of the city (City of Amsterdam, 2017; City of Apeldoorn, 2020). Public space is coming under increasing pressure due to major transitions concerning mobility, climate adaptation, energy, and the circular economy, all of which pose a challenge to urban areas (Maring & Blauw, 2018; CROW, 2018a). These transitions require changes in public space that have a huge effect on above- and belowground infrastructure, buildings, and the design of public space.
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Frezer Ygzaw - Participation of Smallholder Farms in Modern Agricultural Value Chains: East Africa
Abstract: The transformation of the agricultural system is seen as a crucial way to improve East Africa’s impoverished livelihoods. But the tools used to realize this, such as modern agricultural value chains are underperforming. Most literature shows that this is due to poor smallholder farmer productivity. This is despite the focus of international and local organizations to improve smallholder farmers' productivity. So, this study aims to look into the reason behind the challenge in productivity by examining the participation of smallholder farmers in modern agricultural value chains from the perspective of land productivity and collaboration. Taking the region as a case study area qualitative study was conducted. And data was collected from experts in agriculture, agricultural value chain, spatial planning, and other relevant fields with experience in East Africa. The results show that the participation of smallholder farmers in modern agricultural value chains can improve their productivity. However, to achieve significant improvement in productivity the existing spatial organization of farmlands and collaboration systems in the modern agricultural value chains needs to change.
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Õnno Kask - Cycling to School
Abstract: Cycling and other active travel modes have dominated sustainable transportation policy agenda of many cities worldwide. Cycling is deemed beneficial for individuals’ health and well-being while contributing to livability. There is of course a variation to the adoption of cycling and cycling cultures in cities. Amsterdam and Copenhagen are considered frontrunners while others are only taking their first steps. Tallinn, Estonia belongs to the latter category, setting up their first comprehensive approach on cycling in 2018 - the Tallinn Cycling Strategy. Amongst other measures, the strategy aims to make cycling safer and more attractive in the vicinity of schools across the city in order to increase the share of cycling to school among all mobilities to 25% by 2027. This demographic group are seen as a crucial to influence the potential future of Tallinn’s cycling culture. Despite the abundant literature on cycling, there is little to no focus on this particular age group in aspirational cycling cities. This research explores factors (social, cultural, and spatial) that influence cycling to school in Tallinn among children in the ages of 13-16. The research includes street observations, a survey (n = 511) at various schools and focus groups sessions with children, parents and mobility experts. Additionally, expert interviews were carried out in Gothenburg, Sweden due compare cycling in the two cities and gain inspiration for planning guidelines and design interventions for Tallinn. The findings support the need for comprehensive strategies including cycling infrastructure modifications and convenient parking solutions both at home and school, an improved cycling training programme and promotional campaigns specifically designated for school-going children. The research is conducted in collaboration with the Tallinn cycling coordinator.
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Created with an image by bulletrain743 - "dubai skyscraper city lights"